Curious, what was the entire 2017 NEWMAC Fall Ball slate - who played who? Know COAST GUARD hosted Franklin-Pierce University and Western Connecticut State University on Sunday, 22OCT...see above that Springfield played Marist and Merrimack? Babson? Clark? Wheaton? MIT? Mass Maritime? Emerson?

1. Springfield - They just reload every year from a big and deep roster2. Coast Guard - I think this team breaks into the playoffs for the first time in a bold way. Athletic and one more year of experience. Look out.3. Babson - Looks like they have Tufts to open the season. That's a tough way to start.Tie for #4 should come down to last regular season game.4. Clark - Can they overcome graduation at attack and goal with new talent? 4. MIT - A new coach at MIT! When was the last time that was said? Best of luck coach O'Keefe.6. Wheaton - Need to find some consistency and not beat themselves.7. Mass Maritime - another new coach -- Good luck coach Bagby!8. Emerson - a work in progress.

Alright we're more than 30 days since the last post here and we are less than 30 days until the first NEWMAC practices start - what's on everyone's mind? Saw the meaningless IL Face-Off 2018 Pre-Season poll came out...no NEWMAC team in the Top 25...but, it looks like numerous OOC games against the Top 25...with Springfield leading the way...

Here is my thoughts on every teams most intriguing out of conference matchup that will be telling of how their in conference campaign will go

Springfield: RIT/ Amherst - These games will show if this Springfield team is elite or not. Whether or not they can compete with the big boys or are another SC team stuck in no mans land facing a first round exit.

Babson: Roger Williams - I thought last years babson had no problem competing with the top dogs, but couldn't win the games they were supposed to win. If they can get this W its a good sign they have kicked that bug

MIT: UNE or Colorado College - if MIT can pick up a win in either of these it will show their new coach can keep their progress going. Losses could also show that Allesi and his staff took some of their magic with them when he retired.

Coast Guard: Norwich - would like to see how they do in this game. If they can do that long trip and beat up on another academy type team, early in the season, I think it will be a sign they are for real again and have that discipline edge again over the rest of the conference.

Clark: Saint John Fisher - probably their best ooc win last year, if they can duplicate that this year I think it will be a good sign for them. Clark seems to struggle with confidence - another win here could get them believing again like last year

MMA: Plymouth State - a competitive result here could show this MMA team under a new coach actually gets up for competitive games and doesn't pack it in after a few goals don't go there way

Emerson:All the North Atlantic teams on their schedule - if they can't beat the likes of Lyndon state it's gonna be a long year in conference

Interesting choice for Coast Guard's "intriguing" OOC game. The Bears handled Norwich the past two years - not sure if that is going to change this year. They are definitely challenging themselves. Even though Conn College might be a bottom NESCAC team right now, the neighbor rivalry puts that game up in the intrigue level.

Agreed that game against conn college will be an exciting one for cga and a result there would be huge for them. However, I've always found that winning the games you're suppossed to win is a lot more predictive of in conference success than the almost upsets.

I chose Norwich cause I've seen many of liberal arts schools make that 4-5 hour trek up to Vermont expecting a cake walk only to find themselves in a dogfight. I think if cga can continue to show how much more disciplined they are by handling norwich with ease, it will show that their academy style discipline and focus is still an advantage for them even as the team gets more talented. Just my take though !

...cga can continue to show how much more disciplined they are by handling norwich with ease, it will show that their academy style discipline and focus is still an advantage for them even as the team gets more talented.

A majority of the Norwich players are cadets in the university's military college, so I'm betting that Coast Guard does not have an exclusive on discipline and focus.

skilaxdad wrote:And so it begins! Dropped our freshman off yesterday and assume practice starts this week. Word is Babo scrimmaging Tufts on 2/20.

skilaxdad - Best of luck to Babson and your son in his freshman year. Coach Gorman challenges the team with tough OOC games and this year is no different. They will be ready for the NEWMAC schedule for sure.

Actually, that is not a "for sure." Babson underperformed in league play (although massively exceed expectations OOC) last year. I HOPE they are prepared. I expect them to be prepared. So, let's see if they can (at worst) return to form and (ideally) perform for 18 games like they did for the first 9 last year.

Babson is hosting DII, Saint Anselm's tomorrow, 2/10, at 12:30. Seems early in the year for a scrimmage but the forecast says it'll be 50 in Boston on Saturday so why not. I'm interested to see what the squad looks like but I know you can't take away too much from these early year scrimmages. Go Beavers!

Babson will be fine. Saw them play last year, and they were young, but now more experienced. And yes tough OOCschedule. I'm really a NESCAC follower, but just live closer to the Newmac so hope to catch a few more games this year.

Wow - just noticed the Clark is already starting this weekend - at Salve Regina on Saturday, 17FEB at 1:00 PM...wonder why? Everyone else seems to be starting the next Saturday (24FEB) or the following week...fired up for 2018 - should be a great season!